State Theatre season fresh and familiar

June 23, 2005|By Geoff Gehman Of The Morning Call

Cincotti & Botti, "The Queen of Bingo" and 3 Redneck Tenors will play the State Theatre in 2005-2006.

The Easton arts center's new schedule, announced Wednesday, will be big on popular musicians in new duos. On Nov. 4 pianist Peter Cincotti will partner with trumpeter Chris Botti, both of whom have Downbeat magazine good chops and People magazine good looks. A March 18 bill will feature pianist Michael Feinstein and singer Linda Eder, who are equally adept at Broadway and cabaret tunes.

"The Queen of Bingo" (March 23-26) is an interactive, improvisational show in the State tradition of "Late Night Catechism" and "Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding." Spectators can raise money for the State by playing bingo after performances.

Opera meets NASCAR in 3 Redneck Tenors (Nov. 18), a hybrid of two State staples. One is blue-collar comedy on Oct. 2 featuring Bill Engvall, who will play Easton for the sixth time. The other is same-voice crossover singers: Three Mo' Tenors (2003), The Ten Tenors (2004), who will return Feb. 25, and Ronan Tynan (2005), a former member of the Irish Tenors who will sing, dance and joke April 22.

It will be a good season for tribute bands. Bjorn Again -- the ABBA Experience (Oct. 12) and the Pink Floyd Experience (Nov. 17) will join The Fab Faux, who will visit the State for the third time, this time with a psychedelic Beatles program (Feb. 11) and a cinematic Beatles program (Feb. 12).

Other returnees include "Golden Boys" Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell (Oct. 5), who romanced the State in 1994. Newcomers include "God Squad" members Rabbi Marc Gellman and Msgr. Thomas Hartman, who will lecture and answer questions April 6.

A new online service will allow patrons to choose the section of the theater in which they want to sit, similar to Ticketmaster. The system was funded by a $50,000 state grant shepherded by Sen. Rob Wonderling, R-Montgomery.

Tickets for the 2005-2006 season go on sale July 12 for State members. In-person, early-bird sales will be held at the box office from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., with telephone and Internet sales beginning at 10 a.m. Non-members can purchase tickets at 10 a.m. July 29.

To order tickets, call 800-999-STATE (610-252-3132) or the 24-hour credit-card hotline (610-991-STATE). For more information, call 610-258-7766 or go to www.statetheatre.org.

Here's the schedule:

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: Sept. 25; $40, $45

Bill Engvall: Oct. 2; $31.50, $36.50

Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Bobby Rydell: Oct. 5; $52.50, $57.50

Bjorn Again -- ABBA Experience: Oct. 12; $28.50

"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)": Oct. 13; $16, $21

The Fabulous Thunderbirds: Oct. 20; $21, $26

"Capitol Steps": Oct. 27; $21, $26

Peter Cincotti & Chris Botti: Nov. 4; $36.50, $42

Caillou's Big Book Club: Nov. 12; $18, $21

The Pink Floyd Experience: Nov. 17; $29.50

3 Redneck Tenors: Nov. 18; $23, $28.50

The Best of LAF starring Robert Schimmel, Kevin Meaney and Wendy Liebman: Nov. 20, $31.50, $36.50